Why Do Middle Eastern Refugees Vandalize Christian Structures?

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has often argued that Christian Europe should admit more Muslim refugees.

"I'll tell you strictly Muslim-to-Muslim. These (European social workers) are funny. I don't know why on earth they are in love with a Muslim cause that even we Muslims despise." — Syrian migrant to the author, Lesbos, Greece.

"The Syrian refugee crisis in lands stretching from the Middle East into the heart of Europe is another episode in a grandiose, multi-faceted Middle Eastern dilemma: Muslims in this part of the world view the Christian West as 'evil;' yet they know Christian lands are the most decent places to live economically and politically." — Burak Bekdil, 2015.

The local population on the Greek island of Lesbos has been extremely helpful to all Muslim migrants, but recent clashes there show the more realistic side of the Muslim immigration into Christian lands. Pictured: Pope Francis meets migrants at the Moria migrant camp on Lesbos, April 16, 2016. (Photo by Andrea Bonetti/Greek Prime Minister's Office via Getty Images)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in his speech at the United Nations General Assembly in September, launched a scathing attack on the European Union. He accused the EU of having not done enough to support the refugees and claimed that the EU should pay Turkey more than it pledged (three billion euros).

Erdoğan has often argued that Christian Europe should admit more Muslim refugees. In a 2016 speech, he angrily threatened to open the floodgates of migrants into Europe again (in 2015 alone, three quarters of a million migrants passed through Turkey on their way to Europe).

Is Erdoğan using the mostly Syrian migrants as a bargaining chip to recalibrate his country's failed admission to the EU? Is he simply carpet-trading by trying to maximize the amount of European money coming as aid into Turkey? No doubt, but not only that. His Islamist ideology dictates that the number of Muslims living in all corners of the Old Continent should one day herald a demographic victory for Islam.

"Occupying infidel lands" by the force of sword was an Ottoman idea. Occupying infidel lands through demographics is one of the features of post-modern Islamism, as Muslim nations, unlike the Ottoman Empire, lack the military might needed for military invasion.

Recent events on the Greek island of Lesbos, where the welcoming local population has been extremely helpful to all Muslim migrants, show the more realistic side of the Muslim immigration into Christian lands. Even Pope Francis visited the mostly Syrian migrants in two camps on the island of Lesbos in April 2016 to express his solidarity with them and raise awareness regarding their plight.

In April, however, serious clashes between migrants and locals were reported in the main square of Mytilene, the chief port town of Lesbos. For about a week, migrants occupied the main square to protest their conditions. The demonstrations first sparked the anger of locals, and then some far-right groups who wanted the square cleared.

The clashes were followed by more serious news. A television report by Deutsche Welle claimed that criminal gangs of Syrians sympathetic to the Islamic State (ISIS) had established a reign of terror in the Moria migrant camp on Lesbos. The report, partly shot in secret, showed pro-ISIS slogans on the walls of the overcrowded camp.

Apparently, it was not only the inhumane conditions at the Moria camp about which the migrants felt sick. Unidentified migrant groups vandalized a crucifix on Lesbos. Only a few days later, and in a second act of desecrating Orthodox symbols, extremist Muslims on the island vandalized and destroyed a small proskinitari (a small shrine that holds an icon).

This much tension on an otherwise peaceful Greek island does not happen without a reason. In 2017, a Syrian migrant on Lesbos told this author, "I'll tell you strictly Muslim-to-Muslim. These [European social workers] are funny. I don't know why on earth they are in love with a Muslim cause that even we Muslims despise."

The same year on the same island to the same author, an Afghan said, "One day, we good Muslims will conquer their infidel lands."

At the start of the refugee crisis in 2015, you can read in this journal:

"The Syrian refugee crisis in lands stretching from the Middle East into the heart of Europe is another episode in a grandiose, multi-faceted Middle Eastern dilemma: Muslims in this part of the world view the Christian West as 'evil;' yet they know Christian lands are the most decent places to live economically and politically. Wealthy Arab states rigidly turn their back on the plight of fellow Muslims who are in need of a helping hand; and Islamist hypocrites blame it all on the West."

Three years later, it is truer than ever.

Burak Bekdil, one of Turkey's leading journalists, was recently fired from the country's most noted newspaper after 29 years, for writing in Gatestone what is taking place in Turkey. He is a Fellow at the Middle East Forum.

Comment on this item

18 Reader Comments

This is a plan that is well organized by their leaders and people.To spread their religious beliefs.Immigration is a way of Jihad.Jihad has many forms and this is one of them.

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Mike O'Neill • Nov 7, 2018 at 10:17

* the number of Muslims living in all corners of the Old Continent should one day herald a demographic victory for Islam *This will not result in economic growth and well-being for Europe's indigenous people; the incomers are here to take not work and contribute.
The enslavement of the population will be the result, as the 'benefits bill' to support the indolent conquerors will have to be paid by the enslaved.
It was ever thus, but it can still be prevented . . .

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b.a. freeman Mike O'Neill • Nov 9, 2018 at 14:01

it can still be prevented . . .---likely not without a civil war, Mike.

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Mike O'Neill • Nov 7, 2018 at 10:10

* Unidentified migrant groups vandalized a crucifix on Lesbos *All over France, there are many "calvaires", a simple cross or sometimes a crucifix [cross with figure on it]. They are to be seen at the edge of fields, alongside roads, often at junctions. Hard to miss, as they are usually several feet high.In thirty years of driving all over France I have seen them, never one in disrepair or damaged by malevolence.One day I expect I will . . .

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David Walker • Nov 5, 2018 at 20:08

"Why Do Middle Eastern Refugees Vandalize Christian Structures?"

Because that's what they're there for, of course!

They're no more refugees than I'm an astronaut, they are elements of an invading army representing Dar al-Islam conducting low level warfare against Dar al-Harb.

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Bisley • Nov 5, 2018 at 11:05

Why Do Middle Eastern Refugees Vandalize Christian Structures?

For the same reason the Taliban blew up stone Buddhas of Bamiyan, and ISIS did their best to destroy Palmyra -- if they had their way, there would be no evidence that any religion other than Islam ever existed.

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Peter Shearer Bisley • Nov 5, 2018 at 16:05

Almost. They are destroying their own structures too; including remains of Muslim 'saints' and archaeologically important Islamic structures (e.g. house of the Prophet's wife Khadijah)! I think it was journalist Tarek Fatah who documented this aspect of the religion in his book 'The Jew is not my enemy'. What he said was that he had visited the Kaba years ago and then went to see the archaeological remains of the 'Battle of the Trench'. He quickly realized that there could have been no trench at the supposed site. Not surprisingly, Islamic guards quickly showed up to tell him to get the hell out of the area (or else). If there is no trench then one of the cornerstones of Islamic history is gone and that brings all the rest into question. By the way, much of Mecca is being bulldozed and replaced with new buildings. This is total, and intentional, destruction of Islamic history on a large scale. See: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/161423 )

So, getting rid of the past is important in order to 'protect' the religion from verification by archaeological and historical means.

In a similar way, destroying the historical truth associated with other religions must be undertaken because it contradicts claims made by Islamic scholars. They know that their claims can't stand up to scientific scrutiny so that evidence must be eliminated.

Thanx for the insight M.O. What you point out is the most chilling part of the story. Papa Frankie, as you call him, is unwilling to defend the faith and that says loads about a possible future. You've probably heard the observation, usually attributed to Edmund Burk : "For evil to triumph it only requires good men to do nothing." Well, if the pope has decided to do nothing it won't be long before actual good men follow suit. There is an accord (for now) between radical Islam and the left. This pope seems to be as far left as you can go (communist) and unless the College of Cardinals does something to remove him; evil will triumph.

Those in the Vatican know the danger Christianity faces from Islam. They know that the Muslims attacked Rome and the Vatican around 850 AD. After the Muslim army left; Pope Leo IV had a wall built around the Vatican so it would never again be attacked by Muslim invaders. He also had the churches vandalized and ruined by the Saracens rebuilt. The current pope knows this scary part of history but seems to not care. Quite chilling.

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LOFTY BASTA • Nov 4, 2018 at 16:28

Muslims who relocate to Europe and continue to live in segregated communities, espouse honor killing and genital mutilation of girls, treat women as second class property, teach their kids the precepts of Islam as they see it, pray in the mosques which continue to enforce hatefulness against others and send their kids to predominantly Muslim schools WILL NEVER ASSIMILATE. Unfortunately they comprise the majority of Muslims. There are other Muslim who contribute to innovation and growth for their adoptive Nations and are worthy of respect.

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Michael Waugh • Nov 4, 2018 at 14:41

Why cannot Muslims remain where they belong, ie their own countries. We Christians have no room for them in our countries. If they come here they must respect our religion or go home.

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Michael Dable Michael Waugh • Nov 6, 2018 at 07:25

Quite simple Michael - they want and are determined to take your country. But no we do not want them to respect our religion, but most certainly they should be compelled to abide by the same law that British people do. An Englishman on a street somewhere in Britain takes a second wife and he is IMMEDIATELY IMPRISONED. Not only can Muslims have as many as they may like, but ultimately Michael, you pay for them because over 60% of them do not work. Finally their barbaric slaughter houses should be closed immediately!

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Ron • Nov 4, 2018 at 14:08

The faithful's screams of "Allah Akbar", mosques loudly broadcasting prayers five times each day, and devout Muslims boldly proclaiming that Islam is the only true religion, constitute desperate attempts by Islam's followers to hide an ideological inferiority complex that motivates some Muslims to attack symbols of competing religious ideologies, especially Christianity and Judaism. We in the West must learn to accept the unpleasant fact that Islam is a jealous ideology that will not tolerate any competition.

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Michael T • Nov 4, 2018 at 13:45

Might it be suggested to Erdogan that more Christians and Jews emigrate to Turkey and be given full civil and legal rights. See how well that goes over with the Turkish dictator.

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D.H. • Nov 4, 2018 at 11:40

Why do Middle Eastern refugees vandalize Christian structures? Because we allow them to and we protect their "rights" to do it. Oddly enough, even if we as Christians were to think about doing the same to non-Christian structures we wouldn't. There's no need for us to do that and most of us wouldn't even consider doing it.

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Michael Dable • Nov 4, 2018 at 11:18

European politicians are hell bent on turning each country into Islamic states, Britain has a prime minister who observes nothing other than diversity, making no effort to observe that Muslims have no intention whatever of integrating.

The following extract from their Koran illustrates why.

Sura 8 - When the Lord spake unto the angels, 'I will be with you: therefore establish ye the faithful. I will cast a dread into the hearts of the infidels' STRIKE OFF THEIR HEADS THEN, AND STRIKE OFF FROM THEM EVERY FINGERTIP.

Muslims worship such evil rubbish several times a day, for the purpose of elucidation for the dim politicians, other than Muslims every person on earth is an infidel. Hence in the last fourteen hundred years they have migrated in to many countries, all of which are now faithful to the evilness of the Koran.

As a footnote there are about 100 passages similar to this in the Koran, in particular singling out Christians and Jews. Hence the butchery Britain must endure.

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Andy Paul • Nov 4, 2018 at 08:29

The peoples of Europe deserve better than the fate their political classes and commentariat have reserved for them; ie replacement by Islamic migration and wombs and probable long-term erasing from history.

It is time for the peoples of the West to lift their heads and take their fate in their own hands and seek the expulsion of Islam from these shores.

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Jeff Page • Nov 4, 2018 at 07:21

This all comes down to the misguided belief in Europe that Muslim immigrants will bring harmony and cultural enhancement to the continent. How silly is that? Europe is a great place for Muslims to get to, they get all the benefits of a civilised society and the freedom to show their hatred without fear of persecution.

If Muslims were to demand change in any Islamic country they will be met by beatings and live ammunition. In Europe, all they need to do is threaten to carry out a terror attack and the authorities cave in and run for cover, they then shower the Muslims with money and hope that all will be well and that they'll settle down and become productive citizens.

We know that isn't happening, many have been part of rape gangs and carried out a great many robberies where European people have been savagely beaten, and their possessions, stolen.

If this is all part of the European idea of a new multicultural future, then I want nothing to do with it! The EU gave Erdogan money for little results and what is he doing now? Threatening to allow the flow of illegal immigrants to Europe start again without interference.

It will take the EU many more years to catch on and to fully understand the mindset of Muslims. The feeling is that Muslims will blend in peacefully and become good citizens. The people of Europe know differently, it's not going to happen. Islam will not change, there will be no reforms, it will still operate as it has for the last 1400 years.

EU politicians need to hurry up and fully understand this. Muslims will never be the neighbours that people want living next door. It is a religion full of hate and is determined to wipe out all other religions. The sooner the idiot politicians grasp this reality, the better!

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